A photograph presents us with an image from a moment in time and prompts us to visualize the scene as it was. Unfortunately, a photograph leaves a lot out, elements that we know were there but are now left to our imagination. The movements of a rippling water surface or the reflections that change from…

The computer work flow starts by creating a grid pattern for the picture components that is appropriate for the image. Below is a portion of “Brian’s Koi” with the grid pattern superimposed on the image. A mask is then created for each of the four layers, one of which is shown here: The physical work…

3-Dimensionality has always interested me. Before embarking on an exploration of the world of “Xtra-Dimensions”, I was a professor of chemistry at UC Berkeley. I taught organic chemistry and my research concerned molecules involved in natural biological processes (click here for my academic website). The chemistry of these molecules depends on their structures, and their…

The Xtra-Dimensional approach actually grew out of my desire to portray the fluidity, movement, and reflections that are evident when you look at a lake or pond – but are missing in a simple photograph. My first attempt was a 12″ x 16″ rendering of a picture I took from my kayak off Dollar Point…

Forest scenes are also 3-dimensional, with the overlapping leaves of fall foliage, or a stand of aspens with cylindrical trunks receding into the distance. For such scenes, the shapes of the individual Xtra-Dimension components themselves are chosen to complement the scene. Wild Dogwood (24″ x 37″) Photograph by Elizabeth Carmel This piece is unusual because only…

In addition to the images illustrated in the other Xtra-Dimensional pages, I have also used the approach to enhance abstract and other designs. Frozen River – El Capitan (50″ x 30-1/2″) (sold) Photograph by Elizabeth Carmel To complement Elizabeth Carmel’s striking photograph of El Capitan, reflected in a frozen river studded with pine needles, I…

Sunrise in the Sunset (26-1/2″ x 38-1/2″) Photograph by Jon Hope One of my favorite pictures of San Francisco is Jon Hope’s striking aerial photograph “Sunrise in the Sunset.” The image simultaneously captures the uniformity and the diversity of the rows and rows of houses in the western part of the city (in this view, from…

One of my earliest Xtra-Dimensions pieces was from a photograph my friend Brian Metcalf took of his koi pond. Brian’s Koi (24″ x 36″) Photograph by Brian Metcalf Although it had some of the patterns and dimensionality that I hoped to capture with this approach, there have been some refinements since then! 3 Koi (22″ x…

Unicorn Fish School (26″ x 36″ x 3″) Photograph by Jeff Yonover My scuba diving buddy Jeff Yonover takes some incredible underwater pictures (check out jeffyonover.com). Many underwater scenes have shapes and additional dimensions beyond what can be conveyed 2-dimensionally. These pictures gave me a chance to experiment with a curved support (yet another dimension!)…

Bryce Canyon Panorama (24″ x 66″ x 5″) Photograph by Matthias Kabel The “Xtra-Dimensional” approach can evoke the geology of the American southwest with its layer-upon-layer of sedimentary rock formations, as exemplified in a large-format image of Bryce Canyon. This piece is also mounted on a concave surface, reflecting the wrap-around nature of that scene.…

The “Xtra-Dimensional” approach is not limited in size; with image components printed directly on aluminum and then curved and mounted, a large installation can be created. Shown below is a 40″ x 40″ section of a 10′ x 20′ image of an aspen forest. Photograph by Paul Kozal Return to the Home Page for links…